What Should I do After Binding the Wrong System and the Female Lead comes Knocking at my Door? - Chapter 48

“Shocking! Wen Liang personally stepped in to support Pei Yuanxi  does this mean the rumors about Pei Yuanxi and Gu Qing are true?”
“Terrifying when you think about it! Does Wen Liang, like Pei Yuanxi, also like women?”
“Is Wen Liang supporting Pei Yuanxi or secretly sabotaging her? Are they really that close? A detailed compilation of Wen Liang’s iconic eye-roll moments during Pei Yuanxi’s statements!”

The four-person team sat in the office, exchanging looks.

“So… what am I supposed to do now?”

Righteous-and-loyal Wen Liang muttered miserably, on the verge of tears.

She had expected some blowback when she stepped in, but she really hadn’t anticipated being painted as a traitor…

“This photo is so malicious! I was clearly rolling my eyes at a male celebrity on stage, but this picture only shows me and Yuanxi  so now it looks like I was judging her instead. And what ‘compilation of eye-roll moments’? Where’s the rest? There’s only this one photo, and it’s obviously cropped!”

Pei Yuanxi quickly grabbed Wen Liang’s finger before she could poke a hole through her phone screen. “Wenwen, calm down, calm down!”

“You know how those media people are. This kind of headline is already considered restrained for them.”

“It’s an easy fix  I’ll jump in and redirect the attention.”

Wen Liang’s show of support genuinely touched Pei Yuanxi. After all, how many people in life would step up and stand by you, even at their own expense?

Gu Qing nodded. “Make sure to me.”

Wen Liang, moved, sniffled: “Yuanxi, A-Qing, you’re both so sweet… I almost wanna be your daughter. That must be such a happy life!”

She then pointed at Bai Zhou: “And this is your son-in-law… C’mon, A-Zhou, call me Mom!”

Bai Zhou, enraged, head-butted Wen Liang in the chest.

Both screamed in pain: “That hurts!”

Wen Liang: ???
Pei Yuanxi & Gu Qing: …

Pei Yuanxi: [@Gu Qing: If it weren’t for the legal requirements for adopting kids, I swear they’d already have us raising a child who can run errands.]
Gu Qing: [@Pei Yuanxi, Image attached  With a wedding photo like this, I wish it were real. Think our boss would give us a chance?]

Netizens:

【Finally, the main parties have spoken. Can someone tell me — does this count as a clarification or not?】
【100% a clarification! Another thread already proved that foreign “marriage certificate” was Photoshopped.】
【Trash media, NMSL!】
【So what did Wen Liang mean by what she said then?】
【Our Wen Liang gives people the illusion she’s a classy flower who doesn’t lie, but true fans know 2.5 out of every 3 things she says are probably nonsense.】
【No lies detected. Before Yuanxi: Ice queen. After Yuanxi: Occasionally dumb, permanently goofy.】
【Wait… Is Gu Qing trying to chase Yuanxi or what?】
【Y’all are too naive. Think about it: how could such a clearly fake photo be used by so many media outlets unless Yuanxi allowed it?
Then consider: right after Gu Qing joined Yuanxi’s studio, news broke they’d be filming a movie together. Gu Qing is the female lead, and both Yuanxi and Wen Liang are supporting.
They’re basically handing Gu Qing the spotlight. So isn’t this whole scandal just a publicity stunt?
Any insiders know what the film’s about?】
【Throwaway account, don’t dig. The movie has mild GL (girl love) elements  it’s between Gu Qing and Yuanxi.
Also, here’s a tip: Wen Liang wrapped filming before the new year and terminated her contract with her old agency. Guess where she’s headed next?】
【No way! Don’t tell me Wenwen’s joining Yuanxi too?! She finally made it!】
【So… it’s all just hype?】
【Or maybe just maybe  we shouldn’t take entertainment news too seriously. Whether the media is hyping or not, I know one thing: Yuanxi will be fine.
And those minor celebs rushing to drag her down?
Definitely not hype.】
【Uh oh… Suddenly I feel bad for those folks…】

Thanks to the “insider leak” and mounting posts debunking the media photos as edited fakes, the online narrative began to shift:

Is Pei Yuanxi tarnishing her own image just for clout?

Yet others claimed their cohabitation pics were legit and those voices were instantly labeled as haters or fans of the jealous stars.

Of course, there were believers too.
The Yuanxi x Gu Qing CP (couple) fans were nearly delirious from joy.

“Give us more, give us more!”

CP fans: the people least qualified to ship CPs.
This idea was becoming a reality here.

“Online sentiment is shifting as planned. When should we get the production team to start the marketing push?” Bai Zhou reported to Pei Yuanxi, diligently.

“Hm… wait a bit. If we do it now, it might seem too calculated. But in a week  it’s Valentine’s Day. That’s perfect.”

Bai Zhou nodded.

While Gu Qing went to the restroom, she leaned closer and asked curiously, “So, what are you doing for Valentine’s Day?”

Pei Yuanxi blinked. “What else? Stay home.”

“Seriously?” Bai Zhou looked at her like she was hopeless.

“How does someone like you end up with someone like A-Qing? At least try to be a little romantic!”

Pei Yuanxi waved her off. “You don’t get it.”

She and A-Qing enjoying a quiet, cozy night at home  that’s their ideal.

But still, Bai Zhou’s words sparked a thought.

Since dating, it was always Gu Qing who surprised her  with little bells, little whips, thoughtful gestures…

That kind of heart  Pei Yuanxi couldn’t fall behind.

She glanced left and right: “Got any recommendations?”

Bai Zhou grinned, knowing exactly what Pei Yuanxi meant.

She motioned her over and pulled up her shopping cart on her phone.

“Ahem ahem ahem.”

“This is so embarrassing!”

Pei Yuanxi turned her face away but couldn’t resist sneaking a peek.

She wasn’t exactly innocent anymore not after a few of A-Qing’s surprise “lessons.”

But still… what she saw in Bai Zhou’s cart?

Absolutely indecent.

Shameless.

Pei Yuanxi shook her head solemnly. “A-Zhou, you’ve fallen too far!”

“…Are you gonna keep looking or not?” Bai Zhou asked, deadpan.

“…Yes.”

When Gu Qing returned, she saw the two whispering with their heads together.

“What are you two doing?”

Pei Yuanxi and Bai Zhou both jumped like startled cats.

“Ah, A-Qing… um, I was just talking with A-Zhou about…”

She shot Bai Zhou a look to help her finish the sentence.

Bai Zhou: …
“This is a little secret between me and Yuanxi!”

Pei Yuanxi: ???

Gu Qing raised an eyebrow. “Nice.”

Pei Yuanxi: …

She wanted to murder Bai Zhou on the spot.

She’d asked her to continue her story  and instead she tossed out a mysterious “little secret”?!

Bai Zhou laughed nervously: “Anyway! I’ll go wake Wenwen up she’s napping in my break room.”

Escape mode: activated.
Any longer and Pei Yuanxi might exile her back to Mu Xi!

After Bai Zhou fled, Pei Yuanxi tried to play it cool: “I was just complimenting her shoes and asked for the link, that’s all!”

Gu Qing tilted her head. “Wait… you’re not planning to have me step on you in sneakers, right?”

Pei Yuanxi’s face turned pitch black.

She’s not that weird!

Payback.
This was definitely Gu Qing teasing her on purpose.

Even though she couldn’t keep “learning” from Bai Zhou, Pei Yuanxi now had a plan.

Wedding dress.
Sexy version.

Picture it:
Valentine’s night.
Romantic candlelit dinner at home. Flickering flames reflecting on their flushed cheeks.

After a shower, she changes into a sheer lace bridal outfit  light as a whisper, hugging every curve in all the right places.

Elegant floral patterns blooming across her skin, sensual and enchanting.

Gu Qing would be completely mesmerized.

Just imagining it made Pei Yuanxi giddy.

Time to act.

She whipped out her phone, opened a shopping app, and started searching and placing orders.

Meanwhile, Gu Qing messaged Pei Muchen:

Gu Qing: [Sis… I’m planning to propose to Pei Yuanxi on Valentine’s Day, wearing a wedding dress. What do you think?]
Pei Muchen: [Sounds amazing. I know Xiao-Xi she’ll cry for sure.]
Gu Qing: [I thought so too. But I’ll need some time alone to shop for the dress. Should I ask my sister-in-law to go with me, or will that ruin the surprise?]
Pei Muchen: [Better not risk it. I’ll ask her out myself  I need to prep a few things anyway.]
Gu Qing: [What excuse should I give her?]
Pei Muchen: [No need for an excuse. You tell Xiao-Xi that your sister-in-law’s taking you shopping. I’ll tell my wife Xiao-Xi needs me for something.]
Gu Qing: [Got it.]

Just as she sent the message, Pei Yuanxi peeked over: “A-Qing, who’re you texting?”

Gu Qing calmly locked her phone: “My sister.”

Pei Yuanxi nodded, then frowned slightly. “What could you two even talk about? Besides me and my sister-in-law, what else is there?”

Gu Qing smiled: “It’s a secret between me and your sister.”

Pei Yuanxi: …

Gu Qing added: “She said your sister-in-law’s taking me out shopping in a few days.”

“Then go. You could use some social time.”

Pei Yuanxi tapped her chin thoughtfully. Just as well  she could receive packages while A-Qing was out and prep a few other things.

“Did my sister-in-law say where she’s taking you?”

Gu Qing shook her head.

“That’s also a secret between me and your sister-in-law.”